FONT

SHARE THIS

MORE STORIES

Letters: Please vote YES on Measure 3-517

We already have the money, we just need the community to give the city the OK required by the City Charter

It is time to build our new Oregon City Police Department! We already have the money, we just need the community to give the city the OK required by the City Charter.

This measure guarantees NO NEW TAXES and NO New FEES! A safe and modern police department, municipal court and civic center in the heart of Oregon City.

Every employee of the Police Department and Municipal Court work hard each day to keep Oregon City safe and provide the best service possible to our community. The current facility is NOT structurally sound; a seismic analysis of the department said it would likely collapse in a seismic or significant wind event. To best serve the victims that walk in the police department every day, we need a safe and modern design that gives victims of traumatic crimes the security and privacy they need.

A new facility will address all current concerns and accommodate growth and enhanced technology and processes in the future. As a point of reference, the population of Oregon City has more than doubled since the current building was first purchased by the city.

A summary of some concerns with the current building are:

? It has been deemed structurally unsafe in the event of a seismic event or even a large windstorm; the city is required to address this by the year 2022.

? The building was not designed with the safety of police or court staff in mind. In today's times, our employees must feel safe at work.

Something unusual is happening in Oregon City this month: a special election. By the time you read this, your ballot and Voters' Pamphlet will have been mailed. It's a single-issue ballot for Measure 3-517 relating to our police and Municipal Court facility. This measure simply allows the city to spend money it already has. It cannot increase taxes or create any new fees. We seriously need a new facility and it will be built on property the city already owns, so no new property comes off the tax rolls. Once completed, the city will sell the existing site and put that property back on the tax rolls. Further, the money from that sale will be used to help build this new facility.

The sweet part? When the building's paid off, that C-SAF fee on your utility bill will go away! This is a win-win for our community, but we really need your YES vote.

For more information, please check out friendsofocpolice.org or find "Friends of OC Police" on Facebook.

William Gifford

Oregon City

We welcome submissions from readers on local issues for our Opinion page. Please send your thoughts to Raymond Rendleman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please keep Letter to the Editor submissions under 400 words; longer submissions will be considered for Community Soapboxes. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar, libel and appropriate taste. Letters must be accompanied by a full name, a telephone number and street address for verification purposes. Readers are also invited to call 971-204-7742 with story ideas and comments.